Cotter pin



Jul 20,1926. 1,593,433

. F- w. CARLSON COTTER PIN Filed Dec. 9, 1924 I Zlwuntoz I 61cm nag latentecl July 20, 1926 Fannw. GARLSON, or oivronaeon, MICHIGAN.

CUTTER PIN.

Application filed December 9, 1924. Serial No. 754,808.

This invention relates to improvements in cotter pins and has for. itsprincipal ol ject to provide a simple and efficient means forfacilitating the locking of the pin after 5 the same has been insertedin its opening.

The cotter pins now in universal use cause considerable time and laborto be spent in attempting to separate the free ends of the leg membersof a cotter pin,

' 1 in order to lock the same in position. One

of the objects of the present invention is to overcome the abovedisadvantages and insure against the accidental displacement of thecotter pin, from the opening in which the same has been inserted, afterit has been locked.

Arfurther object of the invention is to provide a cotter pin of theabove mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive,strong and durable, and further well adapted for the purposes for whichit is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same Figure 1is a side elevation of the cotter pin embodying my invention, and

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the 7 same when in its lockedposition.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a cotterpin, the same comprising a single strand or length of wire which is sobent as to provide a pair of substantially parallel leg members 2 and 3,which are integrally joined together by a loop portion 4, the latterbeing disposed laterally with respect to the leg members as clearlyshown in the drawing. 7

The leg 2 is of greater length than the leg 3 and the free end 5 of thelonger leg 2 is bent back upon itself to provide the head 6. The freeend 5 of the longer leg is disposed over the free end of the shorter leg3 and is arranged in alignment therewith as is clearly illustrated inFigure 1. The purpose of this construction is to provide a means wherebythe cotter pin may be easily inserted within the opening of the memberwith which the same is adapted to be associated. For the purpose of looking the cotter pin in position within its opening, any suitable tool,preferably a pair of pliers, is employed for engagement with the head 6and by moving the same laterally, the free end will be brought out ofits normal position over the free end of the shorter arm 3 and permitsthe free end of the shorter arm to be disposed laterally, in the mannershown in Figure 2, so that the ends of the legs will be separated, andthus secure the cotter pin against displacement, from the openingthrough which the same extends.

Heretofore, with the cotter pins now universally in use, it wasnecessary to insert a knife or the like between the free ends of thelegs, in order to separate the same whereby the cotter pin could beeffectively locked in position within its opening. This necessitated theloss of considerable time and labor, and it is obvious from theconstruction of the cotter pin illustrated in the present invention thatthe above disadvantages will be overcome and the cotter pin be easilyand efiiciently locked in position after the same has been insertedthrough the opening of the member with which the cotter pin is adaptedto be associated. v

While I have shown the preferred em-' bodiment of my invention, it is tobe understood that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangementof parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim A cotter pin comprising a single strand of wire loopedintermediate its ends to provide a pair of parallel leg members, one ofthe leg members being of greater length than the other, the free end ofthe longer leg member being bent back upon itself and disposed inalinement with the shorter leg member and terminating a slight distancetherefrom, the faces of the terminals of the leg members being disposedin spaced parallelism and in planes rectangularly disposed to the axesof the leg members, the bent back portions providing a tool engaginghead for facilitating the separating of the free ends and faces of theleg members in divergent relation, said looped portion being disposedlaterally with respect to the leg portions toward the side 01 the pin onwhich the long leg member is disposed so that when the free ends of theleg members are spread apart the pin cannot be accidentally displacedbut when it is desired to remove the pin, this may be accomplished bypulling on the looped portion thereby causing the spread apart free endsto come together and to place the bent back portion of the longer legmember in alinement with the shorter leg member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRED W. CARLSON.

